Sustainability at UCSB Campus Campus Sustainability Plan January, 2006

Sustainability at UCSB Campus What is Sustainability? “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” – Washington State Department of Ecology

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Development of the Campus Sustainability Plan In 2005, the CPC subcommittee on Sustainability was charged with developing a campus sustainability plan. Campus indicators were gathered ( ). In the fall quarter of 2005, the subcommittee hired Brightworks Northwest to teach change agents “The Natural Step Process”. (Change agents consist of Staff, Students and Faculty)

Sustainability at UCSB Campus The Natural Step System Conditions: “In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing: 1. Concentrations of substances extracted from the earths’ crust 2. Concentrations of substances produced by society 3. Degradation by physical means 4. And in that society, human needs are met worldwide.”

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Development of the Campus Sustainability Plan Phase I of the plan involved a workshop series with 75 change agents. The change agents were divided into nine groups:  Academic and Research  Built Environment  Energy and Water  Food  Procurement  Transportation  Waste  Communications  Land use/Landscape

Sustainability at UCSB Campus The workshops There were four full day workshops for the change agents: Workshop A - Awareness Workshop B - Baseline Mapping - Organizational flow and analysis Workshop C - Creating a full vision of Full Sustainability Workshop D - Down into Action

Sustainability at UCSB Campus The workshops The workshops brought the change agents to a common understanding of sustainability. Everything coming into campus has a lifecycle and then leaves, partly as by-products in the form of emissions, trash to the landfill, recyclable materials and other waste. Things cannot continue to simply be thrown away. There is no “away”, only, perhaps, a change of form.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Development of the Sustainability Plan, Phase II The nine change agent groups each determined their short, intermediate and long term goals. In phase II of the plan development, the chairs of each group meet monthly to discuss progress towards these goals, barriers, and accomplishments. Change agents also meet regularly.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Establish standards and design language for all new construction/renovation projects to be LEED certifiable.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Sample of goals By 2010, reduce electricity usage by 33% By 2050, reduce fossil fuel usage by 80% using campus co-generation and waste heat and increase photovoltaic on campus to 7% of usage increase wind energy procurement to 20% of usage increase new green technology to 6% of usage

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Sample of goals Affect landscaping policies to reduce water and chemical use. Sustainability efforts have already reduced the usage of “Roundup” from 26 gallons annually to 2 gallons. Irrigate with 100% reclaimed water (at 1/5 the cost of potable water). We are currently irrigating with 89% reclaimed water.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Sample of goals We’ve installed 50 waterless urinals on campus, which save 45,000 gallons of water. Additional waterless urinals will be installed and we continue to implement more water saving technologies as they come available.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Sample of goals Food Services has begun the process of changing their purchasing contracts to include local and organic produce. They will be moving from plastics to all biodegradable disposables, and composting wastes wherever possible.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals All publishing and printing activities on campus will evolve to provide a much greater electronic presence, reducing paper and printing needs, while using only recyclable and sustainable papers and inks.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Sample of goals Purchasing will be examining their procurement practices and vendors to create new standards that would apply to all equipment and materials that the campus buys, e.g. packaging practices, equipment upgradeability and adherence to Energy Star standards, recyclable content.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Partnering with Transportation Alternatives Board to provide greater incentives to avoid single occupant car commutes, creation of standards for campus fleet, encouraging exploration of more affordable housing within a 5 mile radius, promotion of video and call conferencing to replace travel.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Sample of goals Evaluate, then reduce, campus waste with a long-term goal of zero waste. By 2010, reduce gas heating usage by 33%, to 2.2 million therms per year. Use waste heat from electrical cogeneration for 20% of campus heating. Reduce direct fired gas heating to 60%. Study other heat recovery methods, alternative fuels, heat pumps, etc.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus Sample of goals Sample of goals In the academic future, new student internships and degree programs will be offered, both scientific and interdisciplinary. Education and research will be essential pieces in this profoundly important work to help bring earth’s societies toward full sustainability. Change Agents will be giving presentations and meeting with the campus community and the Santa Barbara community. UCSB is hosting its second Sustainability Conference in June, 2006.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus The Campus Sustainability Plan The Campus Sustainability Plan The Sustainability Working Team has developed an outline for the plan. The goal is to have a draft of the plan completed by June 2006, while working with the Planning Department to incorporate the plan into the LRDP.

Sustainability at UCSB Campus For more information on the Campus Sustainability Plan, contact: Sustainability at UCSB Campus Perrin Pellegrin, Campus Sustainability Manager ext Download this presentation at: